|
AUGUST 2, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: HPANA
The first of two charity readings by authors JK Rowling, Stephen King and John Irving concluded Tuesday evening at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
HPANA was in attendance and has full coverage of the event:
The best-selling authors read from some of their popular works, including Different Seasons, A Prayer for Owen Meany and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, as well as answered probing questions from audience members.
Actress Whoopi Goldberg took to the stage first and warmed up the crowd, standing at a podium shaped like a bookcase with each author's name on faux spines. She called the group of authors a "force of nature" and the evening "historic" (even while pronouncing Rowling's name "Roulings").
"Reading is alive and well," said Goldberg. The event served as a testament to what happens when you "put great books in the hands of great readers."
Kathy Bates, who starred as one of Stephen King's most memorable and frightening characters in Misery, introduced him while gushing about the influence her affiliation with him has had on her life. (King later said: "I never met a gross story I didn't like.")
John Irving discussed the desire of audiences to want to know what happens to characters, whether one likes them or dislikes them (which may be most striking to Potter fans eager to determine the loyalties of Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy).
Host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, Jon Stewart, finally introduced JK Rowling to a standing ovation, after jokingly commenting on how his five-month-old baby had already been in line for three months in anticipation of book 7. Rowling then read from chapter 13 of Half-Blood Prince, "The Secret Riddle," in which Harry explores Dumbledore's memory of first meeting Tom Riddle in an orphanage.
Rowling then answered questions from the audience. Here are a few highlights (paraphrased):
NBC News correspondent Soledad O'Brien then mediated the rest of the question/answer exchange, noting that over 1,000 questions had been submitted for the authors.
Rowling was asked how online communication and fan interaction influenced her writing. She responded, in part, that the "shipping wars" were like "cyber gang wars", referencing Harry/Hermione shippers, Hermione/Ron and ones she did not even want to talk about (as several audience members shouted out various suggestions).
Speaking about rejection, Rowling said her works were declined representation early on, like most budding authors. While she landed an agent rather quickly, it was years before she got a book deal. "I was determined," said Rowling. "I would not have stopped writing," she said, even if she had never been published. What would she be doing with her life? "I'd be teaching," she concluded.
We'll have more after tomorrow night's reading. Stay tuned!
Reader Comments (204)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2009 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
How do you pronounce 'Roulings'? It looks like 'Roolings', but also like 'Rowling', but it can't be like 'Roolings' cause you can't get that from 'Rowling'. Okay, enough about the name, and yes, she is a force of nature - the one that stimulates the minds of young readers.
Hmm, does that mean that King based his book on a real woman named Kathy?
Haha, closely entwined with, lemme see, Ron? :P
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 8:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 932
ProngsForLily says:
That's great stuff to read, that must have been an awesome event wish I was there! Hermoine entwined with whom, precisely?
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 9:04 PM EST
Princess of Nargles
Points: 4137
hp_fan206 says:
Awesome. Hermione would be closely entwined with Ron, no doubt about it :P And I think the whole Dumbledore and Draco thing probably means that Draco would have switched sides for safety. He's a coward, nothing else :P
I'dve loved JKR as my teacher.
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 9:09 PM EST
Hogwarts Psychologist
Points: 4236
Patronus Wiz says:
OH OH OH! This is wonderful! Some juicy tidbits to keep us hungry for more. Hmmm, will Dudley venture a try with Harry's wand???
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 9:22 PM EST
Witch
Points: 894
darkside rocker says:
Thoese were some good questions asked.
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 9:36 PM EST
Princess of Fantasy
Points: 2538
magiclover13 says:
That sounded so cool! I wish I could've went...
I wonder what it would've been like if she was a teacher...
"shipping wars" were like "cyber gang wars", referencing Harry/Hermione shippers, Hermione/Ron and ones she did not even want to talk about (as several audience members shouted out various suggestions).- HAHA...very funny!!!
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 9:46 PM EST
Custodian of Miracles
Points: 3264
MadamDumbledore says:
Rowling was asked how online communication and fan interaction influenced her writing.
Arggh! She didn't answer the question. I've always wondered about that.
In the forums there are so many theories, so many amazing ideas and even perhaps, many correct guesses (???)...
What does she really think about our online discussion?
Maybe one day, she'll give an answer.
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 9:48 PM EST
Lady of the Rings
Points: 4116
Padfoot4387 says:
Argh I'm getting confused again. So exactly how long is this charity reading thing going on? I know there was a reading tonight, I just read the thing about DD being dead, but was that from tonight, or was that from last night? Is it too soon for reports on tonight's reading? Man I feel like an idiot.
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 11:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 507
lady_moon says:
I'm glad she answered some of those questions. I always wondered if Muggles could make potions and now I know. Yeah!
Posted Aug 2, 2006 at 11:56 PM EST
Squib
Points: 117
iNLoVeWitPiRaTes0fCaRiBeN says:
OOO i wish SHe answered more questions!! Im just about exploding with anticipation!! I wonder if the whole thing is available somewhere.....
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 12:06 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
Wow, this is so amazing!! I love it when Jo does interviews, she gives us more information on the new book, well, sort of. The questions asked were great, I would have never thought of them.
Anways, about Hermione and the Mirror of Erised, I agree with Jo completely(well, she is the author and only one who actually knows what she will see, but still)
"Closely entwined with...another person"-Can she give us an even bigger hint? NO! She is practically telling us she is going to be with Ron, I love you Jo!! I love how she hints things to us, its like a big riddle.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 12:10 AM EST
Squib
Points: 190
Midnight Mage says:
I love Jon Stewart. Big fan of the Daily Show and now, the Colbert Report. But thats cool i guess. her reading and everything.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 1:02 AM EST
Ron's Love Advisor
Points: 5895
~Sarah~ says:
She would also see herself closely entwined with... another person (you can guess who).
awww and I'm sure that desire of hermione will be happening *dances*
Those were some good questions though. It would have been amazing to have been there.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 1:35 AM EST
The Chosen Hobbit
Points: 2447
Enisnitch Baggins says:
"If a Muggle picked up a wand, it would probably result in something accidental and violent. (We'll find out more about this in book 7.)" What's going to happen? Oh, I'm so excited!!!
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 4:34 AM EST
Witch
Points: 652
Briea says:
I wish I could go but alas Australia is never privy to those sort of wonders. I have always believed Draco has enough for redemption but will never like Harry and friends things can only go so far.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 7:40 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2358
Nataly says:
That is intresting!! hehe love Hermione she is so clever! I found more inresting what she told about Hermione!
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 7:59 AM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2445
JAYSTARR says:
It was Awesome...I was there and so were my friends, people were so excited to see JKR.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 9:04 AM EST
Dragon Rider
Points: 4437
~MalfoyPotter~ says:
WOw.... I wonder who is that other person Hermione sees? hmmmm....
~MP~
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 10:09 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2495
Jbird says:
This is so awesome. Finally some questions that aren't restricted answers. I can't wait for the book-cmon jo.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 10:55 AM EST
Animagus
Points: 19544
Sirius-Ella says:
Entertwined with someone.. RON...bwahahaha.. Again wish I was there to see all this but I live in stinky ole' hannibal misery.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 10:58 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 415
øffe-joe687½ says:
Man, i wish i could have been there...... And stuff.
Snooch to the nooch.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 12:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1819
zues says:
I think it would have been so cool to have been there and to see in person.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 1:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 510
Jealz says:
That great! I thought that's what Hermione would see in the Mirror of Erised.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 1:51 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 308
Eklypse says:
The event sounded awesome! Lots of interesting things said by Jo. And Whoopi Goldberg sounded great, though I may be biased as she's one of my favorite comedians. But Jo really did say some things that need to be pondered over. . .
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 1:58 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 305
hoggywartswitchwannabe says:
That totally sounded like fun. I wish that I was there. Whoopi Goldberg is one of my heros, She is so cool.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 3:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 828
Elphaba_Thropp says:
That muggle using a wand thing seems really interesting. Maybe Dudley uses Harrys' wand. CAN'T WAIT
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 4:30 PM EST
Back to top of page